Rap, R&B Artists Dominate Grammy Award Nominations - 2003-12-04

Rap and Rhythm and Blues artists dominate the nominations for this year's Grammy Awards. Nominees for the annual music industry honors were announced Thursday morning in Los Angeles.

Urban music acts Beyonce, Jay-Z, Outkast and Pharrell Williams led the list with six nominations each. Three of Williams' nominations were for his solo work, and three were for his work with the producing duo The Neptunes.

Top nominees in other categories include rappers Missy Elliott, Eminem and 50 Cent, and the rock band Evanescence. They had five nominations each, as did bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs, R & B star Luther Vandross, the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, and pop star Justin Timberlake. Chad Hugo also had five nominations, two of them for his own work and three for his work with The Neptunes.

A collaborative recording with Beyonce and Jay-Z, called Crazy in Love, is a nominee for Record of the Year.

Other nominees for Record of the Year are Where is the Love with Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake; Clocks by Coldplay; Lose Yourself by Eminem, and Hey Ya! by Outkast.

The pop star Moby announced some of the pop nominees, hinting at his favorite.

"Nominees for best performance by a duo or group with vocal, Bon Jovi for Misunderstood; The Eagles for Hole in the World; Fountains of Wayne, who should probably win for Stacy's Mom; Matchbox Twenty for Unwell; and No Doubt for Underneath It All," Moby said.

Country star Brad Paisley named the nominees for best female country vocal performance.

"June Carter Cash for Keep on the Sunny Side; Patty Loveless for On Your Way Home; Martina McBride for This One's for the Girls; Dolly Parton for I'm Gone; Shania Twain for Forever and For Always.

Singer Annie Lennox is one of the nominees for best pop vocal album for her album Bare.

Contenders for Album of the Year are the rapper Missy Elliott, the rock band Evanescence, the hip-hop duo Outkast, pop star Justin Timberlake and the Detroit rock duo The White Stripes.

The Grammys are presented by the Recording Academy, and winners will be announced February 8 at a ceremony in Los Angeles.